“A Gentleman’s Gentleman” is a beautifully crafted trans Regency romance that takes the slow-burn trope to new heights. The story follows Lord Christopher Eden, a trans man who faces the pressure of marrying by the age of 25 to retain his estate. Feeling isolated and convinced that love is out of reach, his life takes a turn when James, his new valet, arrives with the task of helping him find a wife among the ton.

What stands out most about this novel is its heartfelt exploration of identity, love, and belonging. Alexander masterfully weaves together themes of found family and self-acceptance against the backdrop of a richly detailed Regency setting. The characters, particularly Christopher and James, are wonderfully nuanced. Christopher’s journey from a reserved, lonely figure to someone who learns to open up and pursue happiness is especially touching. His interactions with his chosen family at Eden Abbey—including the kind-hearted Cook and the steadfast Plinkton—add warmth to the narrative and bring a sense of community and support.

James, with his stoic yet gentle nature, is the perfect foil to Christopher’s vulnerability. Their chemistry is undeniable, though the romance builds slowly—perhaps excruciatingly slow for some—but it makes the payoff all the more satisfying. While the novel is told entirely from Christopher’s perspective, it would have been interesting to see James’ point of view as well, especially during the emotional turning points of their relationship.

The plot is peppered with twists, some of which are easy to anticipate, but they don’t detract from the enjoyment. In fact, it feels more like a game of watching the characters piece things together, which adds to the fun. The setting of Eden Abbey, with its crumbling beauty and endearing staff, feels like a character in its own right, grounding the story in a world that is both elegant and deeply personal.

Overall, A Gentleman’s Gentleman is a touching tribute to the power of love and self-discovery. The slow-burn romance, witty dialogue, and heartfelt moments make this a must-read for fans of queer historical fiction. TJ Alexander has truly outdone themselves with this charming and emotional story. Highly recommended!

This book was everything I needed from a trans regency romance and more. I loved the setting of Eden Abbey, with its crumbling aesthetic and wildly beautiful lands and wholesome staff. I also loved the characters. Christopher is so sweet and kind and earnest, and I loved that he learned to be more open with the people he cared about and how to pursue his happiness. Also Christopher, Cook, and Plinkton created a cute little found family that I adored from the very first page. And of course James was the perfect edition to that family. He is so stoic yet strong, a perfect balance to Christopher. He is also so caring, especially to Christopher, and helps him come out of his shell. I loved James and Christopher together so much. I do wish they both had points of view in the book instead of it being entirely Christopher. I also wish there had been a bit longer of an emotional conversation between the two when they got together. But overall this book met all my expectations and more and I highly recommend it!

Wow! This book was hard to put down. While I anticipated nearly all of the twists (and there were a lot!) I didn't mind, and it didn't feel "predictable"...more that I had fun putting the pieces together and then had fun waiting for the characters to catch up. Now, the book is the DEFINITION of slow burn. Like, I can't imagine it going any slower. But that just mans the pining goes on for longer, so who am I to complain?

It's hard to say much about this book without giving too much away, but know that it is a beautiful ode to found family and making a life for yourself even if the world - and even yourself - stands in the way. I cannot WAIT for this to come out because it is sure to be a hit.

I am a fan of TJ Alexander in general, but they knocked it out of the park with this book! The characters were charming, there was wit and humor, and I genuinely loved the plot! I would love Alexander to write more queer historical romances because they clearly have a knack for it!

"A Gentleman’s Gentleman" by TJ Alexander is a slow-burn trans Regency romance.

The story revolves around Lord Eden, also known as Christopher, who must marry by the age of 25 to fulfill his family’s will and retain his title and estate, but he is not interested in women. As a trans man (at this particular place and time in history) he feels isolated and believes that love and intimacy are beyond his reach. Everything changes when his new valet, James, comes into his life to help him find a wife among the ton.

The book is a delightful mix of wit, mystery, action, romance, and heartwarming moments with his chosen family. I couldn't put it down and read it all in one sitting. I highly recommend this novel. A big thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday for the ARC.